Edwards to be Obama's Running Mate
Submitted by jesse on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 23:16.
John Edwards recently announced he was pulling out of the Democratic Presidential Primary. This was in contrast to previous indications from both the candidate and one of his senior advisers, Joe Trippi that he would stay in the race until at least Super Tuesday.
Other than money, the main reason to withdraw from the race at this point would be to give a clear boost to Obama as the anti-Hillary candidate. Yet had Edwards stayed in the race he would have easily gained enough delegates that in a tight race he'd be able to have considerable influence on the final outcome.
So why would Edwards give up this potential position of being the King/Queen maker? Perhaps because Obama offered him the job of running-mate as part of an Obama/Edwards Presidential ticket.
We know Edwards is open to the job of vice-president as he ran with Kerry, and he's young enough that 8 years from now he could run again for President. I'm unaware of any serious policy conflicts between Edwards and Obama that John couldn't stomach, especially in contrast to John Kerry's mediocrity.
Illinois Senator Barack Obama on the other hand will need someone like Edwards to balance out his ticket. The Black intellectual from the North can certainly benefit from the White Southern populist. Together they could bring an incredible amount of both excitement and credibility to the Democratic hopes of sweeping Congress and the Executive Office.
None of them want Edwards as VP...
You're wrong.
The Democratic elite may want Edwards in some federal position, such as labour. But few of them want him to be VP.
Let's make clear that we're not dicussing some ideal democracy.
We're discussing American democracy.
Where Corporate power funds candidates.
And people are asked to choose, based on which candidate has the best PR.
The fact is, most Americans depend on information from the mainstream media to vote. Since they're not involved in grass-roots popular organization themselves.
If the mainstream media covers a candidate adoringly and positively, they'll win. That's why, despite Iraq, George Dubya won in 2004. No matter what, the media portrayed him in a respectful/tough manner. Portraying John Kerry as a wannabe copying Bush's platform.
We can see Obama being portrayed as fluffy candidate. Low on policy, great in oratory. We can see Edwards being portrayed as a metro-sexual. Paying thousands for haircuts. And chasing ambulances. Little mention of his actual message.
Combine Obama-Edwards, against a Republican party that's portrayed as ultra-macho...there would be no-contest. The republicans would win just because the American population is scared to death of the outside world.